Apparatus for the continuous wet-treatment of textile material

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a process and apparatus for the continuous wet-treatment of textile materials which comprises a container means containing a treatment liquid, inlet means for introducing the material to be treated to the container means, at least one permeable roller means rotatably disposed in the container means and at least partially submerged in the treatment liquid, at least one drainage means connected in series with respect to the roller means, said drainage means being provided with a guide roller means, and outlet means for removing the material from the container means.

United States Patent Fleissner [151 3,681,950 [451 Aug. 8, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS WET-TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL [72] Inventor: Heinz Fleissner, Engelsbach near Frankfurt, Germany [73] Assignee: Vepa AG, Basel/Schweiz, Switzerland 22 Filed: March 20, 1969 21 Appl.No.: 808,931

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 20, 1969 Germany ..P 17 60 004.3

Feb. 25, 1969 Germany ..P 19 09 357.3

[52] US. Cl. ..68/22 R, 68/D1G. 5 [51] Int. Cl ..B05c 3/138 [58] Field of Search ..68/22 R, 158, 184, DIG. 5, 68/9, 19.1, 20, 175; 34/122 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,199,126 8/1965 Chaikin et a1 ..68/158 X 3,362,079 1/1968 Fleissner ..68/D1G. 5 3,374,646 3/1968 Fleissner ..68/DIG. 5 3,011,328 12/1961 Fleissner ..68/158 3,025,691 3/1962 Fleissner ..68/ 158 3,410,119 11/1968 Fleissner ..68/22 X 3,412,474 1 1/1968 Fleissner...- ..34/122 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,353,600 l/l964 France ..68/175 610,515 3/1935 Germany ..68/9 609,728 10/ 1948 Great Britain ..68/1 75 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant ExaminerPhilip R. Coe Attorney-Craig, Antonelli and Hill ABSTRACT The present disclosure is directed to a process and apparatus for the continuous wet-treatment of textile materials which comprises a container means containing a treatment liquid, inlet means for introducing the material to be treated to the container means, at least one permeable roller means rotatably disposed in the container means and at least partially submerged in the treatment liquid, at least one drainage means connected in series with respect to the roller means, said drainage means being provided with a guide roller means, and outlet means for removing the material from the container means.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus 8 I972 SHEET 1 BF .3

Fig.1

Fig-2 Inventor:

#EINZ FLEISSN R 24 ATTORNEYS Pmmenws 8 an 3.681.950

sum 3 or 3 APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS WET- OF TEXTILE MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the continuous wet-treatment of textile material, particularly material lengths of filaments which are sensitive to traction, such as tows. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the use of a liquid container containing at least one roller means through which the treatment liquor circulates, preferably a sieve drum roller which at least partially dips into the treating liquor, for example a dyeing liquor. At least one drainage device is connected in series or in tandem with respect to the sieve drum roller.

Apparatus are known in the art which comprise permeable rollers which dip into a treatment liquor. These rollers generally have a perforated jacket which is covered in some cases with a sieve or a screen structure. In these known apparatus, the liquor flows through the roller jacket from the outside to the inside thereof. The circulation may be produced by subjecting the roller to a suction draft, or by maintaining a higher liquor level outside of the roller than within said roller. Due to the circulation of the treatment liquor, the material being treated is held to the permeable roller and conveyed on the roller through the treatment liquor. At the same time, the treating liquor circulates through the material, for example textile material, thereby flowing around each individual fiber. As a result, an extremely sensitive, but at the same time careful and protective liquid treatment is attained.

As a discharge or drainage device, a pressing device, e.g. squeeze roller means is generally connected in series or in tandem with respect to each bath. However, it is also known to employ a suction device instead of a squeeze roller. The known suction devices comprise a stationary pipe and the textile material is drawn over the suction slit of this pipe. Relatively high traction forces are produced thereby so that suction means of this type are suitable only for materials which are adapted to withstand a high traction force or stress. Textiles which are sensitive to traction, such as thin non-Wovens, woven and knitted articles, or tows, cannot be dehydrated with such suction devices. Since the drainage device is generally disposed behind the bath, the textile material is freely guided from the sieve roller to the suction device. The free path or distance may be one meter or more. Because of the returning or backwashing liquid, a water trap is formed within the material in the free path which results in a further stretching of the articles and a tearing of the capillaries.

Additional difficulties arise in the case of synthetic fibers which are present in the forms of tows. During the spinning process, elements such as sulfur, sulfates, acids, and the like are produced due to secondary reactions and are retained by the fibers. Moreover a part of the solvent adheres to and is disposed within the fibers. It is therefore known, in connection with the manufacture of synthetic fibers, to guide or pass said fibers, after emergence from the spinning nozzles, through various stages of treatment in order to remove these undesirable constituents from the fibers. It is further known to pass the tows as endless filament groups through several treating baths being connected in tandem.

In accordance with another known process, the tows are cut into piles and the cut fibers are passed on feeding elements through the various baths and are introduced onto sieve bands with individual treating stages.

In the known processes, speeds of more than 60 m/min. are frequently obtained. Sought, on the other hand, are filament velocities of 150 m/min. and above.

Very large treating devices are required at these high speeds.

In order to prevent these washing devices from taking up too much space, it is known to provide several treatment containers in a superimposed arrangement. However, the use of more than 3 vertically disposed containers is rather difficult due to maintenance problems and space. For feeding velocities of up to about 60 m/min., about nine to 12 treatment baths are required at the present time which, in turn, have a length of approximately 3. to 5 meters- At higher speeds, a correspondingly greater number of the known baths or correspondingly longer baths, must be utilized since a certain residence time in the bath is absolutely necessary in view of the fact that the substances in the fibers need a certain amount of time to diffuse from the interior thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to avoid the prior art disadvantages in the wet-treatment of materials, for example, textile materials.

Another object of the present invention is to effectively remove undesirable constituents from textile fibers during the wet-treatment process.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. I

Pursuant to the present invention, the above-mentioned disadvantages may be eliminated and a much improved apparatus for treating textile materials may be obtained by providing a drainage device for the material which comprises a guide roller which is provided directly behind the sieve roller disposed in the treatment liquor. It is advantageous to provide the guide roller as a permeable suction roller having at least a narrow suction area extending over the entire working width, and/or to combine the guide roller with a squeeze roller.

An effective space-saving construction is achieved when the guide roller and, respectively, the suction roller is accommodated at the transition point between two baths. In this case the suction roller may be directly coordinated to two adjacent rollers in the treating liquor, preferably the rollers of two adjacent baths.

On the basis of tests it has been found that it is desirable for many materials to provide the jacket of the suction roller with a large free cross section, for example greater than 50 percent, preferably greater than percent. For very sensitive or delicate materials, it is proposed that a fine wire mesh screen be additionally disposed over the jacket.

In order to prevent, for instance, a wrapping formation, particularly in the case of tows, it is proposed that the guide roller and, respectively, the suction roller be given a diameter approximately of the same magnitude as the sieve drum roller which dips into the treating liquor. For rinsing the sheaves of filaments, particularly tows of polyacrylonitrile, polyamides and similar fibers, a minimum washing time is required. However, it has been surprisingly found that these washing or rinsing times may be substantially shortened, i.e. that the diffusion from the interior of the fibers may be considerably accelerated when the head or gradient between the fibers and the liquid surrounding the fibers is as great as possible. This effect may be achieved in that the washing or rinsing liquor is drawn through the tows. During the heretofore customary washing processes, the treatment liquor is gradually enriched at the sheaves of fibers with the substances to be rinsed out, whereby the concentrating head or gradient is reduced and the rinsing times are correspondingly lengthened. When the treating liquor is passed transversely through the sheaves of fibers, the substances to be washed out and adhering to the sheaves of fibers, which can be mechanically removed, can be washed out very rapidly and thoroughly. For the purpose of diffusing the sub stances to be rinsed out which still are present in the fibers, it is thereafter desirable to allow the fibers to remain within the treating liquor for an additional period of time. For purposes of mechanically and rapidly removing the substances to be rinsed out, the material may be passed over sieve drums through which the treatment liquid circulates. The liquid may be either drawn through or pressed therethrough. In a second treating stage, the textile material, particularly the sheaves of fibers, may be drawn through flat tublike liquid containers or reservoirs, and the liquor may essentially stand still in these containers. However, it is also possible, to place to the textile material into the treating liquid in a folded fashion and to unfold the folded arrangement after a predetermined residence time. It has also been found that it is advantageous to apply and dispose the textile material, particularly the sheaves of fibers, on the drums through which the liquid circulates in such a manner that it is compressed in the direction of motion, and to pass it through the treating liquor in this condition. By virtue of such a compression the sheaves of fibers are opened and may therefore be traversed by the treating liquid in an improved manner.

In the case of the sieve drum baths, several sieve drums may be disposed in one bath. The sieve drums may then be superimposed with respect to each other. Here, the liquid drawn in by one sieve drum may be passed into the second drum and may, from there, be pressed outwardly. It is thus possible to obtain a circulation through two or more sieve drums with the aid of a single pumping device and thus to assure the flow of the liquor through the material disposed on these drums. The residence baths may be provided either as flat tub-like containers or as U-shaped containers. It is additionaly possible to combine such U-shaped baths with flat baths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only andthus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein,

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, crosssectional view of a different embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 5 shows a fine wire mesh screen which can be provided over the surface of the jacket of the suction roller, and

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of a plurality of sieve drum means which are superimposed with respect to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views ,to designate like parts, the apparatus according to FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a container 1 which is subdivided by means of a web portion 2 into two baths 3 and 4. Each bath is provided with a sieve drum means 5 through which liquid flows. The textile material 6 to be treated is fed via a roller 7 to a sieve drum 5 where it is penetrated by the liquid disposed on the outside of the sieve drum, due to the difference of the level of the treatment liquor on the outside and inside of said sieve drum. At the transition point from bath 3 to bath 4, which is located outside of the treating liquor, a suction roller 8 is disposed. The suction roller as illustrated in the drawing has two suction areas 9 for removing the liquid adhering to the material 6. The material 6 may be either a delicate knitted material or a delicate nonwoven product. However, it may also consist of sheaves of fibers, for example yarns or tows. The second bath 4 is constructed in a manner similar to bath 3. The suction roller 8 which is connected in tandem with respect to this bath has but one suction area 9. Generally speaking, however, the construction will be made such that the .apparatus will be provided with either suction rollers having one suction area, or with general rollers having two or more suction areas. Provided in the suction roller is a stationary baffle 10 which interrupts the flow of the treatment medium except in the suction areas 9.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the sieve rollers 5 are open at one end face thereof. Laterally disposed at this end face is a liquid collecting reservoir'll which has an intermediate bottom 12. Arranged in the intermediate bottom 12 in an opening 13 is a pump 14. The pump motor 15 is secured to a traverse rod 16 outside of the treating liquor. This traverse rod 16 also carries, in the embodiment shown, the suction device 17 with the motor 18 for the suction roller 8.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3 is constructed in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The same elements have therefore been designated with like reference numerals. In this apparatus, the sieve drum rollers 5 are provided as suction rollers which are disposed in the liquid of the treatment bath. A pump 19 is provided for each sieve drum roller 5 at one of its faces. This pump serves for producing the induced suction draft. The suction rollers 8 are partially disposed in the treatment liquor and separate, together with the web portions 20, the various baths from one another. Such baths are also well suited for the solvent treatment. For this purpose, cover means or suction hood 24 can be provided.

According to FIG. 4, the textile material 6, for example the sheaves of fibers, is initially pre-washed in baths 3 and 4. At the inlet of bath 3 there is a roller 7 from which the material 6 is conveyed to the sieve drum 5. Arranged between baths'3 and 4 isa guide roller 8' to which a squeeze roller 21 is coordinated. The textile material 6 passes thereafter into flat tube-like baths 22 where it is guided through the treatment liquor by way of rollers 23. All of the treating baths 3, 4 and 22 have a common suction hood 24 which facilitates the removal of vapors and gases rising from the baths. However, it is also quite feasible to arrange a separate suction hood for each of the sieve drum baths 3 and 4. By combining the sieve drum baths, a plurality of tub-like baths may be dispensed with and also the high water consumption can be substantially reduced. Thus a combined apparatus operates more economically. A quality improvement is thereby assured for various fibers.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a conventional construction of a portion of the jacket 30 of a suction roller having a surface which is covered with a fine wire mesh screen 31.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 6 illustrates a treatment bath wherein a plurality of sieve drum means are provided and the sieve drum means are disposed in a superimposed arrangement. Sieve drum means 5 are suction drums; whereas sieve drum means 32 are blower drums. A permeable suction roller, which is not shown, is disposed above and to the right of the last drum means 32.

The materials which can be treated by the apparatus of the present invention include any of the natural or synthetic fibers. The natural fibers can include cotton, wool, silk, cellulose, etc., and the synthetic fibers may comprise synthetic polymers such as polyolefins, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., polyarnides, e.g., Nylon 6 obtained by the condensation of caprolactarn, Nylon 66 obtained by the condensation of hexamethylenediamine with adipic acid, etc., polyesters, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, etc., phenolic resins, e.g., phenol formaldehyde resins, urea formaldehyde resins, etc., polyvinyl materials, e.g., polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, etc., acrylate resins, e.g., polymethylmethacrylate, copolymers of these materials with one another or with ehtylenically unsaturated monomers, and similar type polymers. The apparatus of the present invention is also applicable to blends of the above-mentioned textile materials.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be apparent to one skilled in the art are intended to be included.

It is claimed:

1. 'An apparatus for the continuous wet-treatment of textile materials which comprises a container means containing a treatment liquid, inlet means for introducing a textile material to be treated to the container means, at least one sieve drum means rotatably disposed in the container means and at least partially submerged in the treatment liquid, at least one drainage means connected in series with said drum means, said drainage means comprising a guide roller means including a permeable rotatable suction roller having at least one suction area through which liquid is drained from the textile material, and outlet means for removing the material from the container means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein squeeze rollers are operatively associated with the rotatable suction rollers to squeeze treatment liquid from the textile material in contact with said suction roller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means are provided for dividing the container means into at least two treatment baths, each of said baths containing at least one sieve drum means, and the suction roller is provided at the transition point between said baths.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the suction roller is positioned between and operatively associated with two adjacent sieve drum means of two adjacent baths.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein means are provided for enclosing the baths in a gas-tight manner, said baths also being provided with exhaust means.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said treatment baths is provided with a plurality of sieve drum means which are superimposed with respect to each other.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction roller is provided with a jacket which has a free cross sectional area greater than 50 percent and a fine wire mesh screen is provided over the surface of the jacket of the suction roller.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suction roller has a diameter substantially the same as the sieve drum means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container means is combined with at least one residence bath container means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the residence bath container means comprises a plurality of tube-like baths for the conveyance of the textile material therethrough.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein roller means are associated with the tube-like baths for guiding the textile material therethrough.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tube-like baths are disposed one above the other and additional roller means are provided for transferring the textile material from one tube-like bath to another. 

1. An apparatus for the continuous wet-treatment of textile materials which comprises a container means containing a treatment liquid, inlet means for introducing a textile material to be treated to the container means, at least one sieve drum means rotatably disposed in the container means and at least partially submerged in the treatment liquid, at least one drainage means connected in series with said drum means, said drainage means comprising a guide roller means including a permeable rotatable suction roller having at least one suction area through which liquid is drained from the textile material, and outlet means for removing the material from the container means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein squeeze rollers are operatively associated with the rotatable suction rollers to squeeze treatment liquid from the textile material in contact with said suction roller.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein means are provided for dividing the container means into at least two treatment baths, each of said baths containing at least one sieve drum means, and the suction roller is provided at the transition point between said baths.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the suction roller is positioned between and operatively associated with two adjacent sieve drum means of two adjacent baths.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein means are provided for enclosing the baths in a gas-tight manner, said baths also being provided with exhaust means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said treatment baths is provided with a plurality of sieve drum means which are superimposed with respect to each other.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suction roller is provided with a jacket which has a free cross sectional area greater than 50 percent and a fine wire mesh screen is provided over the surface of the jacket of the suction roller.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suction roller has a diameter substantially the same as the sieve drum means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thE container means is combined with at least one residence bath container means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the residence bath container means comprises a plurality of tube-like baths for the conveyance of the textile material therethrough.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein roller means are associated with the tube-like baths for guiding the textile material therethrough.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tube-like baths are disposed one above the other and additional roller means are provided for transferring the textile material from one tube-like bath to another. 